Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA)

Congratulations, Sanil Joseph! 🎉

It’s World Carrot Day! 🥕 While we don’t deny the overall health benefits of our crunchy orange friends, did you know the idea they're exceptionally good for eyesight is linked to historical myth? 👀 During World War II, there was a rumour that the British pilots' improved night vision was due to eating carrots. 🛩️ This was actually a cover story spread by the Royal Air Force to hide their use of radar technology! CERA Head of Macular Research Professor Robyn Guymer says carrots contain Vitamin A, which is essential for the normal functioning of the eye, but unless you’re deficient in Vitamin A they are unlikely to help your vision. “There is evidence to support a Mediterranean diet and eating dark, leafy greens can reduce your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration,” Professor Guymer says. A Mediterranean diet emphasises plant-based foods, healthy fats and moderate amounts of protein and dairy, with a focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and olive oil, while limiting red meat and processed foods. So please enjoy your carrots today, but make sure to also eat your greens! #WorldCarrotDay #EatYourGreens 🥗

Known as the 'silent thief of sight', glaucoma often causes irreversible vision loss before it's detected. At CERA, Associate Professor Zhichao Wu is leading work to improve glaucoma diagnosis and treatment – recognised last year in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)'s 10 of the Best Research Projects publication. While current glaucoma treatments are effective for many, around one third of people diagnosed with the disease still go on to lose vision. This is because it is hard to accurately measure when the disease is worsening and to know when stronger treatments are needed. Associate Professor Wu's research focuses on identifying new biomarkers pf glaucoma and using advanced imaging and AI to detect glaucoma progression earlier and identify those at highest risk. This innovative approach aims to make clinical trials shorter and less costly, leading to earlier diagnosis, faster identification of disease progression and paving the way for new treatments. “We ultimately want to help clinicians provide more personalised management of patients by developing better ways of detecting glaucoma progression,” says Associate Professor Wu. “These tools are also critical for facilitating the discovery of treatments in glaucoma.” Continue reading to find out more about Associate Professor Wu’s groundbreaking work. Access the full story via the link in the comments. 👇

Ian Crump has searched for scientific answers his entire life. 🔬 Now he’s offering hope to the next generation of people living with inherited retinal disease by supporting CERA research. Now retired, Ian worked for a decade at the CSIRO in Melbourne: “I was part of a small team introducing computerised literature searching to CSIRO and other Australian scientists in the 1970s and 1980s,” he says. Ian interest in our research doesn't only stem from his science background. He also lives with retinitis pigmentosa – a group of rare eye diseases that affect the light-sensing retina at the back of the eye. 👁️ Retinitis pigmentosa is caused by a change or ‘mistake’ in one or more genes. Retinal cells don’t work as they’re supposed to and over time you lose vision. Around 70 genes are known to cause different types of retinitis pigmentosa, and there are many more yet to be discovered. “My family has had retinitis pigmentosa for at least three generations, but we are lucky that it doesn’t start to affect us until our thirties and then gradually progresses,” Ian says. “I had to stop playing cricket about age 45. When playing golf, I always needed a partner behind me watching, as the ball would disappear from my limited peripheral vision." Now 77, Ian began his connection with CERA several years ago and generously donates once a month. “I provided my DNA to the VENTURE study, but no gene match was found,” he says. “I always knew it was unlikely something would happen for me given my age but who knows? The amount and the speed of discoveries is so exciting. “And I wish I were 50 years younger! I would have loved to do research alongside CERA scientists. “The hope is there, and the results are coming.” Ian's story appears in our latest edition of Visionary. 📖 You can read it in full by accessing the link in the below comments. 👇

Pioneering CERA research by Dr Anna Wang is shedding light on new cell types that may hold clues for the future of glaucoma treatments. Glaucoma has long been treated by lowering eye pressure through medication and surgery to prevent further vision loss. It's a life-changing approach for many, but for others the disease continues to progress. CERA Head of Visual Neuroscience Research Dr Wang is taking a deeper look at the retina at the back of the eye to identify the cells directly affected by glaucoma. “We’ve found certain cell types are more vulnerable to the damage caused by glaucoma. If we can identify the specific cells affected, and understand why they are more susceptible, it could lead to new ways to detect the disease earlier and even develop treatments that target these cells directly,” Dr Wang says. Continue reading to find out how Dr Wang’s research could potentially pave the way for more personalised approaches to glaucoma management. Access the full story from our Autumn edition of Visionary via the link in the below comments. 👇

Optometrists play a crucial role in research at CERA and Cerulea Clinical Trials, and for World Optometry Week, we're celebrating some of the optometrists here who make it happen. Lisa Lombardi is a senior clinical trial coordinator, and shares how she works to transform the lives of people living with vision loss. - What is your role at CERA and Cerulea, and what do you love most about your work? I am a Senior Clinical Trial Coordinator at CERA and Cerulea Clinical Trials. I love the opportunity to be involved in research which is exploring novel technologies and new medical interventions which have the potential to improve the lives of those living with vision impairment. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be part of a field that is continually pushing boundaries and strives to improve health outcomes. - What inspired you to get into vision research? I hadn’t really thought of vision research as a career pathway for me until an opportunity arose to work on the longitudinal bionic eye study which was exploring new vision processing algorithms. The work was fascinating and I became interested to get involved because of this. - What do you think optometrists bring to vision research? Optometrists are well placed to contribute a wide range of skills to vision research. We are trained clinicians who are accustomed to testing, diagnosing and managing patients in the primary healthcare setting. These skills are transferrable to research, where testing for clinical trials often involves long appointments with an extensive list of tests required. Our efficiency with gathering this information, while ensuring the comfort of the participant is something we have been trained to manage. Trials I have been involved with involve participants with profound vision loss and so, our understanding of ocular diseases and how these affect vision is a great advantage when considering how information is provided to participants right through to assisting participants through clinical trial visits. - What’s your advice to optometrists considering a similar career? If you’re looking to expand your skillset and explore other ways to contribute to improved ocular health outcomes, then research may be a good option for you. I have been very lucky to have had many opportunities to present at conferences both locally and internationally and have recently had a first-author paper accepted for publication which will soon go to print. I’ve also had the opportunity to upskilled in the areas of venepuncture and lab bloods processing. Research has added a breadth to my career path that I hadn’t anticipated, and it’s been a very rewarding and fulfilling experience. If you’re considering it, I’d encourage you to give it a go. #WorldOptometryWeek

It's World Optometry Week and we're celebrating the optometrists who bring new sight-preserving treatments to people. Jacqui Henwood is an optometrist at Cerulea who coordinates trials and shares her journey from the clinic to research. - What is your role at Cerulea and what do you love most about your work? I recently finished a role with Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) as Research Project Manager within the Ophthalmic Epidemiology department working on Artificial Intelligence projects and their role in detecting common eye diseases and heart disease. I am now based at Cerulea - CERA and coordinating inherited retinal disease trials with adults and adolescents. A huge difference between daily clinical practice and research is the time spent with patients. I love getting to know the patients and learning their stories. They donate so much of their time to be part of research and their altruism is very much appreciated. - What inspired you to get into vision research? I worked in the clinical side of optometry for years before entering the world of research. When I first applied for a role at CERA, I can honestly say that I didn't really know what the role would entail, but I wanted to broaden my knowledge and skills within optometry, and I haven't looked back! Since then, I have learnt so much and loved being part of teams so dedicated to improving eye health and vision. I love the daily learning and problem solving that comes with the role. I currently work in both routine optometry practice and research, which complement each other very well. - What do you think optometrists bring to vision research? Optometrists are highly trained within optometry and eye health - we see the daily impact of eye conditions on patients and their families. We bring a practical element to research, as well as the knowledge and skills required for application in the clinical setting. No one wants to tell a patient that there is nothing that can be done for their eye condition. Optometrists play a pivotal role in the translational aspect of our research by taking our findings back to their patients. In doing so, optometrists are a vital part of the solution, and I hope that one day, eye care professionals won't have to say that there are no therapeutic options available for their eye condition. - What’s your advice to optometrists considering a similar career? When I graduated from university, I had no idea that a career in research existed and I never expected to follow the pathway I have. I hope that more optometrists can be aware of these opportunities and get involved in research. They may decide to supplement that with their clinical work, which is a great mix, as research is rewarding and you are continually developing new skills and knowledge. #WorldOptometryWeek

It was a pleasure to welcome Kristie DeMarco from the Global DARE Foundation to the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and Cerulea Clinical Trials today. It was also an amazing opportunity to bring together our fantastic #refsum local advocate Sharon with (from left): her optometrist from the 90s, now head of Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Prof Andrew Metha; her ophthalmologist Prof Heather G Mack AM; Sharon; Kristie; me; and the lead author on a really important advocacy article on Refsum disease, Parker Truong. #IRD #refsum

Victorian independent medical research institutes are in crisis and our ability to save and improve lives is at serious risk. The indirect costs of research, that are specifically excluded from research grant funding, continue to rise unchecked. For CERA this means costs for essential IT upgrades to keep our patient data safe and secure has increased by 234% since 2019. Professional fees to keep up with increasing compliance and regulatory costs have soared by 243%. Victorian Government support for indirect costs is going backwards in real terms. Our ability to develop new treatments is under threat. We urge the Victorian Government to urgently increase funding for the indirect costs of research by $60m per annum, starting in the 2025-2026 budget. Saving lives and sight can’t wait. #AAMRIVIC #SavingLivesCannotWait Jacinta Allan #JaclynSymesMP Danny Pearson

Early treatment is crucial to protecting your vision loss from glaucoma. 👁️ Your support is crucial in tackling glaucoma’s biggest challenges: early detection, effective tracking of its progress and new treatments. 🔬 Join us in accelerating our research and protecting the sight of the 300,000 Australians living with glaucoma. Donate to our Glaucoma Appeal today. 👉 https://ow.ly/WMAI50Vh5me #GlaucomaWeek #GetTested Pictured: Clinical Trials Participant Lesley Hunter is sitting in a chair in a clinical setting and getting her eyes tested by Clinical Trials Coordinator Sandy Rezk, who is standing to the left of Lesley.